[SE] Bad or worse news first?

Zavien

Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil.

He lets the immediate impact of the information take its course, knowing there's nothing he can say to make it easier. It sucks that he has to be the one to tell him, but Zavien owes it to Koa to be honest. They both know the ability of the ring and the validity of the information it gives them, so there's no mistaking the truth of Noe's 'condition.'

Once the emotions seem to have run their course, Zavien becomes the comforter, placing a stabilizing hand against his friend's back. His voice is calm and reassuring, so at odds with the uncertainty toiling within him. "Koa. Take a breath." Sol whines softy, adding the pressure of his body to Koa's leg. Taking a slow, deep breath of his own as example, he says, "She's okay for now. We'll work on a plan to get her to the Springs." Even if it went against every instinct to return to the place of his death, Zavien would do it - for his friend. 

Knowing how hard it must be, he lets out a soft sigh. "Just... try to think logically. From what we know, she's in no immediate danger." From the 'illness' or the Family. Zavien had shared Deimos's information on Sunjata and Hotaru's own infections, leaving them much more aware of what it looked like. That just left getting her to the Springs at some point. "Let's first see if you can convince her that going will help her feel better." They don't need to resort to hasty or aggressive tactics quite yet. Searching his friend's eyes, he asks, "Okay?"

Koa

There's going to come a day when you feel better
You'll rise up free and easy on that day

It's terribly selfish for Koa to ask Zavien for comfort when his friend is still coming to terms with the fact that he died, but he finds himself leaning into the touch of both Dragoon and dragon, gratefully. Deep breaths, that's right - they can get through this. He nods absently at Zavien's sound advice, still struggling to hear past the pounding in his ears. Yes, better to take a rational approach. The last thing he needs is for Noe to get spooked and fly off the handle, the way Sunjata quite literally had.

Coming to some sort of internal decision, Koa gives a determined nod and sinks back into his chair. "I'll talk to my dad. He can help convince her." Again he nods, as though to convince himself of the importance of patience in this, though his heel continues to bounce nervously against the ground. It's only when Pip nips gently at his ear that he truly realizes how far he's spiraling, and makes the herculean mental effort to bring himself back into the now.

Inhaling another deep breath, the young man looks apologetically back at his friend. "Sorry. You're right - she's safe for now. It can wait." Though the tight muscles in his back and shoulders suggest that he may not be able to. "I want to hear more about how you're doing, and your plans, and Lena. But first I need a drink - do you want a drink?" Never mind that it's barely past lunchtime; it's already been an exhausting fucking day.

[fin]

And float from branch to branch, lighter than the air
Just when that day is coming, who can say?